All We Know Is Falling - A Tayley Fanfiction

Chapter 2: All We Know

The second that Chad leaves, I retreat to the sofa and collapse, sighing heavily. Why is everything so complicated now? I miss the days when we were young, and naïve. I miss the days when I could be happy without my every move being judged. I miss my old life...

I met Josh and Zac Farro in 2002, when I moved from Meridian, Mississippi to Franklin, Tennessee. I was scared, as any child who has ever relocated knows, because I had nothing in this new town. They were my first friends, and the ones that really connected with me, despite my riotous ways. I met Jeremy Davis, and we started the band. In 2005, we were signed, and it was like a dream come true. I loved every member of our amazing band, and I remember thinking that these were the people that I wanted to spend my life with. I wanted it to go on forever, and now it's all broken...

The Riot! era was even better. We had gained a little bit of confidence, and had matured just a little bit. Our music lost its dreamy, nostalgic touch, and became powerful and...well...riotous. The line-up changed a little, but we were still the same - if anything, the switch-ups made us stronger, and I met the one person who has never deserted me...snap out of it, Hayley! We were as wild and free as my fiery hair, but we still stayed connected somehow to our roots. It was perfect.

Somehow, everything shifted towards the end of the decade. We became more desperate, and it showed through our music. "Misery Business" had been a massive hit, and we wanted to keep riding the wave. Songs like "Ignorance" and "Careful" showed that we'd lost our youthful edge, and lashed out at the world around us. Tensions had been building for a long time, and we found that arguments continually started between the brothers and I. All of a sudden, we went from a quintet to a trio, and I'd lost two people that I'd thought would be in my life forever. I hid my sorrow by releasing a powerful but haunting hit: Monster. But at that point, I didn't know who was the monster - me, or them.

Despite the pain, we came back with a new album: Paramore. The message at that point really was "we're sad, but it's ok...we'll fight off the pain with joyful pop!". Controversial, yes, but in the end it took us to a new level, both in our music and as a band. We became tighter, the three of us, the three musketeers, fighting off the haters with songs like "Ain't It Fun?" and "Anklebiters". Even then, it was hard. The only good thing to come out of it was...no, Hayley, you can't think like that!

And now we've hit rock bottom. Jeremy's gone, and it's just the two of us, and I bet soon enough I'll be alone. Why would anyone want to be in a band with me? One by one they've left, shouting insults as they go. The only person I've got now is Chad, and to be honest I'm not so sure I'm that happy anymore...

Ring! Ring! Ring! My head jerks up from its comfortable nod. Turning towards the coffee table, I see my phone, hidden beneath magazines, fan mail, and failed attempts at starting again. Like a zombie, I move reluctantly towards it, not quickly enough to catch the unlucky caller. Nevertheless, a message lights up my screen: 1 Missed Call from Taylor York.

A sigh escapes my mouth. Taylor's called every single day since we fell apart and not once have I picked up. Sometimes once, sometimes twice, at most 7 times on my birthday, but every call is like a punch to the gut, reminding me of what once was. I miss him absolutely, passionately, like anyone would miss their best friend in the world, but I know that if I try to build something again then it will all come crashing down, just like it has countless times before.

Another phone call comes in, and I'm ready to turn away and wait for it to stop when I see the caller ID: Brian O'Connor. My hair appointment! Jumping off the sofa, I grab my keys and my phone and sprint out of the house.